A Fox Squirrel, Sciurus niger, has been spotted in the Nature Preserve! The fox squirrel is North America’s largest tree squirrel species. It is known for its very bushy tail, orangish wash on gray fur, and of course, its large size. Their color is extremely variable however, ranging from gray to nearly all black, and many may have only a black head with a white nose and ears! Most do retain orange washed tails and bellies though. Interestingly, some may have white tail tips, like red foxes, while others may have black tail tips, like gray foxes! They may weigh up to three pounds and their body length may be as long as two feet! Add a tail almost a foot long, and you have a very large squirrel. Because of their large size, and sometimes appearing to have a black mask, one standing straight up in the forest is often mistaken for a monkey by many Floridians! They are extremely secretive and rarely seen by people in many areas. There are ten subspecies ranging throughout much of North America, even though absent in wide swaths of land. In Florida, there are four subspecies, all of which are protected because their numbers are dwindling due to development and habitat loss. The one seen in the Garden’s Nature Preserve appears to be the Sherman’s or Southern Fox Squirrel, which is definitely listed as a species of special concern by the state of Florida.
Their preferred habitat is open forested areas, often riverine in nature and those dominated by hardwoods like oaks, hickory, and walnuts. But they are often found in swampy habitats dominated by cypress and pines. Hence, our Nature Preserve provides an excellent habitat for these impressive rodents since it has both hardwoods as well as cypress and pine trees. Fox Squirrels are omnivorous, eating a wide variety of naturally occurring nuts, fruit, insects, bird eggs and other varied items. They are not particularly social, and individuals are often found alone. As a trained Field Biologist, and a former professor of Vertebrate Biology, I was particularly excited to find these beautiful animals here in our Garden! We are still finding new species in our Preserve! You never know what you will see. Come help us discover new species at the Garden. –Dr. John Rossi